22/10/2015
NEWS STORY
Engine change sees both Ferrari drivers hit with 10-place grid penalties in Austin.
The news that Ferrari has opted to change the engines in both cars, which sees Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on their fifth units of the season, will be a boost for Lewis Hamilton, whose only possible threat for the 2015 crown comes from the German and his countryman Nico Rosberg. Currently, Vettel is 66 points behind the Briton.
"Yes, we will have the hit of a ten-place penalty for a new engine at this event but it has always been the plan," Vettel told reporters. "It is not a big secret and no surprise for us. This was always the plan for us to have the strongest engine available at every single point in the season.
"If anything this is a very positive sign because we are pushing very hard and the guys have managed to make big steps in terms of performance," he added. This should not be understood as a downside."
Should Hamilton win on Sunday, Vettel will need to finish second if he is to retain any chance of claiming the title.
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